1) In the 1990s the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) was amended and changed into the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (ACT), signed into law by then President Clinton. The Act mandates that all states and territories of the U.S. provide public school education for all children between the ages of 3 and 21, no matter how severe their disabilities are. IDEA mandates in Part B that schools must provide the least restrictive environment (LRE) to receive funding. In accordance with LRE is the need to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This typically includes special education related services at no cost to parents and an individualized education program (IEP).
2) Special education remains controversial because of the extra costs associated for providing education to those with disabilities. States must meet requirements of IDEA to be granted federal funding. However, parents often meet with controversy with school districts in determining if their child meets the provisions of IDEA as far as meriting FAPE and an IEP. IDEA lists thirteen disabilities that qualify for such provisions, including such disabilities as autism, deafness, speech impairment, and mental retardation. If a child meets the requirements of IDEA, parents and educators typically work together to design the IEP that will meet the childÆs needs.
3) There are six steps involved in formulating the IEP, a process that is typically undertaken by parents, collaborators and other educational and healthcare professionals. The six steps involved in the creation of an IEP are: assessment, setting short and long term goals, context and methods, resources, organization, and evaluation. Context refers to the kinds of topics and themes that might be used to capitalize on interests of the child, while it also gauges if the learner will be motivated by a particular choice. Methods determine what kind of teaching will take place...